Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-14
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The diagram below shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Central Library 20 years ago
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The diagram shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and another floor plan for that same library today.
Central library before 20 years consists of tables and chairs just in front of the entrance , surrounded by adult fiction books and adult non-fiction books. Upper left corner of library had CD's, videos and computer games, while right corner consists of children's books. Reading room was just situated on the left of the entrance with newspaper and magazines while on the right side it had enquiry desk consisting of tickets, books, returns etc.
Central library today has computer room on the left side of the entrance and cafe on the right side of the entrance door. No chair and tables are there in front of the entrance, but space in between has all reference books on one side and adult fiction books on other, information desk and self service machines on other. The upper right corner has lecture room just beside the adult fiction books and upper left corner has children's fiction books and storytelling events with addition to sofa.
In conclusion, many changes has been done in the central library with in 20 years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the floor plan, identifying key changes such as the replacement of the reading room with a computer room and the addition of a cafe. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, such as the modernization of the library's facilities. While the task is addressed, the reporting of features is occasionally imprecise, such as the vague mention of 'space in between' rather than specific zones. To reach a higher band, you should synthesize the information more effectively by highlighting the transformation from a traditional book-focused space to a modern, multi-functional facility in an introductory overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear distinction between the past and present layouts. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'on the left side' and 'on the right side' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit mechanical. There is a lack of varied transition words to link ideas between sentences and paragraphs. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') and varying your linking phrases would help the ideas flow more naturally and improve the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the library features clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'enquiry desk', 'self-service machines', and 'storytelling events'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'consists of' used in the past tense ('consisted of') and 'with addition to sofa' which is grammatically awkward. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to spatial description and change, such as 'relocated', 'converted', or 'transformed', rather than relying on basic verbs like 'has' or 'is'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'Central library before 20 years consists of' (should be 'The central library 20 years ago consisted of') and 'many changes has been done' (should be 'have been made'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces before commas and incorrect capitalization. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the content, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on consistent tense usage and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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